Emily Dickinson Lexicon

COM-PILE', v.t. [L. compilo, to pilfer or plunder; con and pilo, to pillage, to peel, and to drive close; compilatio, a pillaging; It. compilare; Fr. compiler; Sp. and Port. compilar. The L. pilo is the English, to peel, to strip; but pilo, to make thick, or drive together, is the Gr. πιλοω, lanas cogo, coarcto, constipo. Compile is probably from peeling, picking out, selecting and putting together.]

1. To collect parts or passages of books or writings into a book or pamphlet; to select and put together parts of an author, or to collect parts of different authors; or to collect and arrange separate papers, laws, or customs, in a book, code or system.
2. To write; to compose. In poetry, they compile the praises of virtuous men and actions. – Temple.
3. To contain; to comprise. [Not used.] – Spenser.
4. To make up; to compose. [Not used.] – Shak.
5. To put together; to build. [Not used.] – Spenser.